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(Updated 4/17/2017)
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There are 2 airports in Medellin, the Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport, airport code EOH, and the José María Córdova International Airport, airport code MDE. EOH is mainly used for regional and domestic flights and is really easy to get to. Located right next to the South Terminal bus station, it's about 10 minutes from El Poblado. Just hop in any taxi and it should cost you around $5,000 COP to or from Poblado.

The MDE international airport is a lot further away from the city center and more expensive to get to, so that is the focus of this post. Most travelers arriving or departing on international flights will be utilizing this airport. The MDE airport is also referred to as the Rio Negro airport due to it being in the municipality of Rio Negro. All methods of getting to the airport listed below can simply be done in reverse if you are arriving and trying to get into Medellin.

Method 1: Taxi or "Gringo-style"

I affectionately call this method the "gringo-style" way of getting to the airport because this is the method most travelers will use. It is the easiest and most convenient way. Just hop into any yellow taxi. There is no need to negotiate as the rates are fixed. The most current rate will be listed on a placard that is attached to the front windshield in the upper right corner. As of April 2017, the price is $65,000 COP.

This is how I got to and from the airport the first few times before I learned about the cheaper ways. Also, if you have an early morning flight or are arriving late, this may be your only way.

Total Cost - $65,000 COP

Grab one of these very common yellow taxis (minus the crazy Canadian and Australian)

Method 2: Shared taxi or "Paisa-Style"

Most of the locals get to the airport by colectivo or the shared white taxis. First make your way to the San Diego Mall (Centro Comercial San Diego). If you go by taxi from El Poblado, this should cost under $7,000 COP. Then locate the white taxis which will either be waiting for passengers in the Texaco gas station parking lot or behind the Falabella building along Carrera 42B (Las Palmas).

The colectivos will most likely be waiting in this Texaco parking lot right outside of the San Diego mall

If they are not at Texaco, they should be behind this Falabella building along Carrera 42B (Las Palmas)

The white "colectivo" airport taxis

The day I used them, they were all waiting in the Texaco parking lot. As soon as you pull up, there will be guys running alongside your taxi asking if you are headed to the airport. You can't miss them.

They generally leave every 30 minutes or as soon as enough people are ready to go. The cost is $60,000 COP split between however many people are in the taxi, i.e. $15,000 COP each for 4 people, etc. If you are the first to arrive, you can claim the front seat. Otherwise, you'll get crammed into the back with 2 other people like I did. But at least I got the window seat. HONK!

Total Cost - starts at $15,000 COP for the colectivo if there are 4 people. They usually wait for the taxi to be full before leaving. If you include the taxi to get to the San Diego Mall, then around $20,000 COP total from El Poblado.

Method 3: Shuttle bus or "Mochilera-style"

(UPDATE APRIL 2017) ***You can now catch the shuttle bus next to the San Diego Mall, exactly where you catch the collectivo taxis in method 2. There is a bus stop near the Texaco gas station where the shuttle bus will pull up. Just keep an eye out for it and wave it down when it approaches. No need to go all the way downtown anymore (unless you're already down there). Instead take the metro to the Exposiciones stop and then walk about 4 blocks to San Diego. Just ask anyone how to get to the mall if you get lost.

The recession has hit you hard and you're trying to save a few pesos. Well don't worry my friend, I will show you how to get to the airport for around $11,000 pesos. Make sure you have plenty of time to spare though since you will have to walk, take the metro, find Hotel Nutibara and then hop on the shuttle bus.

First, make your way to the nearest metro station. You'll most likely be in El Poblado, so just walk down Calle 10 to the Poblado station. The metro ticket will cost you less than $2,000 COP. Then hop on the metro heading in the Niquia direction. Get off at the Parque Berrio station. As soon as you exit the station, look to your left for Hotel Nutibara, which is a huge building with a Nutibara sign on top. Go behind the building and locate the shuttle buses at Carrera 50A #53-13. They are mini-buses that are white with green trim run by Combuses, SA. The sign on the front of the bus should read "Aeropuerto JMC". The tickets cost $9,000 COP and it takes about an hour to get to the airport. Be careful at night as the area tends to get a little sketchy. During the day you should be fine. As you can see on their business card below, when going to the airport the shuttle runs from 3:30 am - 9:30 pm(SCHEDULE HAS BEEN EXTENDED. THE BUSINESS CARD BELOW LISTS THE OLD SCHEDULE). Coming back from the airport, it runs from 6am - 12pm (NEW TIMES) and stops at the San Diego mall.

Total Cost - under $10,000 COP
For more information, call 034-511-4023

The shuttles line up behind Hotel Nutibara (Photo credits: sobrecolombia.com)

I've been to and from the International Airport to Medellin a few times and have always taken then shuttle bus. They are great. They are cheap. And i've seen a few tourists show up in a cab to the hostel saying the taxi driver is trying to charge them way more than the 50mil (one was saying it was $50. Needless to say the hostel had words with the taxi driver and he didn't leave with over the 50mil.)

Thanks for your comment Dani. It is really expensive to take a regular taxi to and from the airport and those costs quickly add up if you're living in Medellin and need to travel often. The shuttle or colectivo are safe, low-cost alternatives and a great way to save our hard-earned money.

That's unfortunate to hear about the taxi drivers trying to overcharge those tourists but it definitely happens. I'm glad to hear the hostel was able to help sort things out though.

Good luck with your move to Medellin...maybe I'll see you there!

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Lila

1/21/2018 07:56:11 am

Is the shuttle bus to town locate some where at the airport? Do I book it some Where? Thanks

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Mateo

6/6/2013 12:03:31 am

This is really great information and very helpful to someone who is coming here for the first time. Thanks for sharing!

Does anyone know how late the collectivism run TOWARD the airport from Medellin. I'm gonna sleep in the airport and want to get the last one. Thanks

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Andrew Spark

7/11/2013 09:10:58 am

You can also rent a car. I rented one in Medellin recently, last minute, for $55, one way from San Diego to the airport. It was more than the taxi, and I also had to drop some coin on toll and tax, but then I also had a car for the day, and saved money on the several taxi rides I would have taken.

That's a great idea especially if you have some last minute errands to run around town! Which company did you go with and was anything special needed for the rental besides credit card and ID? Thanks for the input.

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Andrew Spark

7/11/2013 01:53:31 pm

I used Inter Nacional. Nothing special was needed, but it was a bit odd because while I gave them my credit card, they made me pay cash up front.

A few interesting things to keep in mind that I don't even normally think of

1. They gave me a manual stick shift car, the only car they had at the moment (I was literally a walk-in). I hadn't driven stick in years, and the first thing I had to do was drive straight up to Las Palmas in very heavy traffic. Medellin drivers are not rude, but they move quickly considering the conditions. That initial climb was not a pleasant experience.

2. I ended up hitting a curb, which I do a lot, but as I found out when I got back in the car a little later, I destroyed the tire. I don't have collision on my car at home and was relying on the credit card for collision coverage, but the credit card insurer doesn't cover anything unless the whole rental was paid on the card, which it wasn't since I paid cash. Luckily, the rental car place hasn't charged my card for the damage, even though I told them how it happened when they came and changed the tire and that my credit card would cover it (before I found out otherwise).

3. the rental car desks at MDE are not open very late. I recently tried to make a reservation for this Sunday night around 8:30, and every website I tried said there are no cars available then, and one site said that its outside the hours of operation for all of the companies. I haven't yet searched to see if there is a local, off-airport outfit that might be open late, but thanks to your article, I'll just take the shuttle to my hotel and probably rent in town the next day.

Andrew Spark

7/11/2013 01:59:12 pm

sorry about the multiple posts. I kept getting messages that the site couldn't post my comment and didn't see it, and just came back to try again and saw the mess.

No problem Andrew, I took care of the glitches. Thanks for posting the information about the car rental. The whole time I was in Medellin I didn't even consider renting a car just because I imagined it would be so much more difficult than in the US. But if someone is looking to get a rental this information will be really useful to know. Cheers

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Andrew Spark

7/15/2013 04:01:37 am

Thanks for the tip. The shuttle went up to $8,000 COP, but obviously still a big savings. Its stops at San Diego now, too, on the way into town (but not going back).

Thanks for the updated details, I went ahead and updated the post to reflect the new information. I'm glad you were able to use the shuttle and save some money!

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Andrew Spark

7/16/2013 03:49:12 pm

I just remembered that there was a stop coming into town on Las Palmas even before San Diego, but I don't remember exactly where. Only one guy got off, and the driver almost went right past it, so whoever wanting to get off there should tell the driver.

... thanks to your description - it was quite easy. The taxi driver took me directly at the right places close to the San Diego Mall. There was a man with "Aeroporto" on his vest - he brought me to the right taxi (he got from the driver a small commission). It was a long but enjoyable ride to the airport. Small price increase: the 3 Colombian businessmen and I have each paid 13,000 pesos ... but from El Poblado in about 1 hour for 20.000 Peso to the airport it's still a good deal. Thanks !

Hi Tino, I'm glad to hear everything worked out for you and that this information was useful! Thanks for the heads up on the price changes, I will update the article with the new prices. Happy travels!

Hi, I've been some days ago again in Medellin and tried now the Method 3 (shuttle bus) to the airport and I was really surprised how easy and comfortable it was. No more people than seats in the bus and the bus stopped maybe just 2 times between to pick up some locals (I took a bus in the afternoon). We needed a little bit less than 1 hour - but it's better to calculate with a little bit more (traffic jam). The price is a little bit higher now - it's 8.600 Peso. But still the cheapest and not really the most uncomfortable way (I had more space in the bus for me than in the shared taxi) to get to the airport. If you stay close to the center or metro station I would recommend this option.

Regards,
Tino

Felice

8/12/2014 11:39:22 am

Hello I'm going to Medellin on Thursday and I want to know if this method works in reverse to Medellin and not the airport. I can't afford 60.000 COP for a taxi so please help :)

Yes, it works also coming from the airport to Medellin. And as Tino said, it only costs about 8,600 pesos. It will stop outside San Diego Mall where you can transfer to a local taxi. Enjoy your stay in Medellin and let me know if you have any other questions!

Cheers!

Joseph

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Donna

1/13/2015 12:45:41 am

Hello, I am planning to arrive at the Jose Maria Cordova airport next week in the afternoon. I hope to take the bus to town and then take the metro to Pablado station. Could you tell me if I should get off at Nurtibara or San Diego to catch the metro. Also do you pay for the metro with pesos on board or do you buy tickets elsewhere?

Donna,
Take the shuttle bus from the airport to San Diego mall, you can pay with pesos on board, should be around $8,000. After you get off at San Diego, walk to the nearest metro station which is Exposiciones about 4 blocks away, just ask for directions. There you can pay again with pesos at the ticket booth. Then just take the metro to Poblado station.

From San Diego, you can also take a taxi to the Poblado station or another location in Poblado for around $7,000. Hope that helps, enjoy Medellin!

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Sebastián

5/8/2015 05:08:42 am

It's a good post, and I think it's very easy to understand for foreign people, congratulations!!
Blessings

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Vic

7/4/2015 08:23:32 am

What's the latest that colectivos (White Taxis/Vans or Buses) run from airport these days? Dang Jet Blue does not arrive before 23:30 and does not get your out before 0:30.

We will also provide the Airport Shuttle, Transfer, Pick up Service in Capetown, South Africa,

if you want to then visit online at : http://capetowntaxi.co.za/

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Tines

4/16/2017 04:32:24 pm

Thanks for the information!! As a little update for shuttle buses: I think they changed their horario slightly and the price is now 9000 COP :)
Medellín – Aeropuerto: 3:30 a 21:30 horas
Aeropuerto – Medellín: 6:00 a 24 horas

Tines,
Thanks for the message. I will update the post with the new schedule and price. Safe travels,
Joseph

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Nathasja

6/6/2017 01:46:58 pm

Thanks for all the information! I want to take the mini-bus from Hotel Nutibara to the airport. But do the buses leave at scheduled times or just when the bus is full?
It would be a risk if I have to wait till it's full, don't want to miss my flight :)

That's a great detailed information . its very useful information who those persons they coming first time here. you provide taxi service its very good people can get service comfortable and fully enjoying travel . If you give the more information about timing and rates of ticket so people can get your service easily without any difficulty.